Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in Da Nang vs $878 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,077 per month in Da Nang vs $1,429 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,443 per month in Da Nang vs $1,981 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Da Nang is about 19% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Santa Cruz are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 47% lower, Santa Cruz 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 ₫49.5K

$7.66 JMD 1,213

-75.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 ₫504.1K

$62.0 JMD 9,819

-69.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ₫126.6K

$8.89 JMD 1,407

-45.67%

Cappuccino

$1.56 ₫40.8K

$4.39 JMD 695

-64.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$1.31 JMD 207

-61.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,582

$0.76 JMD 120

-61.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₫28.0K

$2.56 JMD 405

-58.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.5K

$3.15 JMD 498

-49.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 ₫37.8K

$4.44 JMD 703

-67.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$3.62 JMD 573

-73.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.6K

$1.55 JMD 246

-27.10%

Eggs

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$3.48 JMD 550

-57.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 ₫324.7K

$10.91 JMD 1,727

13.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 ₫98.3K

$6.50 JMD 1,029

-42.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ₫260.6K

$7.69 JMD 1,216

29.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₫71.4K

$5.99 JMD 948

-54.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 ₫24.1K

$3.15 JMD 499

-70.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$4.31 JMD 682

-74.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$2.96 JMD 468

-62.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.9K

$2.10 JMD 332

-45.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.8K

$2.02 JMD 320

-40.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

$3.09 JMD 490

-66.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₫12.8K

$1.50 JMD 237

-67.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.35 ₫35.4K

$8.68 JMD 1,374

-84.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 ₫203.8K

$11.38 JMD 1,801

-31.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$2.88 JMD 455

-70.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₫43.0K

$3.22 JMD 510

-49.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,949

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.84 ₫100.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₫23.2K

$1.12 JMD 177

-20.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$3.27 JMD 517

-78.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.0K

$6.12 JMD 968

90.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 ₫24.2K

$1.23 JMD 194

-25.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ₫703.2M

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

-38.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.8K ₫755.7M

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

-13.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$75.0 ₫2.0M

$161 JMD 25.5K

-53.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.00 ₫157.5K

$21.96 JMD 3,476

-72.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.16 ₫214.1K

$51.8 JMD 8,200

-84.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.13 ₫528.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.75 ₫203.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 ₫82.2K

$12.91 JMD 2,043

-75.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$152 ₫4.0M

$225 JMD 35.6K

-32.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₫336.6M

$2,521 JMD 398.9K

409.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.68 ₫1.0M

$26.24 JMD 4,153

47.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 ₫662.0K

$25.28 JMD 4,001

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 ₫1.3M

$70.6 JMD 11.2K

-27.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 ₫2.0M

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 ₫6.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₫19.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₫11.9M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,738 ₫98.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,275 ₫33.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$334 ₫8.8M

$401 JMD 63.4K

-16.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

9.15

16.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Da Nang: April 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Da Nang versus $0 in Santa Cruz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Santa Cruz, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Da Nang versus $62 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $354 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Da Nang vs Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $711 in Da Nang, $878 in Santa Cruz – roughly 23% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,067 per month in Da Nang and $1,317 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $711 in Da Nang and $878 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $152 per month in Da Nang and $225 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $711 in Da Nang and $878 in Santa Cruz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $711 in Da Nang to $878 in Santa Cruz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.